Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday backed a full investigation into the controversial Pune land deal allegedly involving his grandnephew Parth Pawar, saying that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should “put all facts before society.” Pawar’s remarks came amid escalating political tension within the state’s ruling Mahayuti alliance and renewed questions about the financial and ethical dimensions of the alleged transaction.
The controversy centres on the reported sale of 40 acres of prime government-owned land in Pune’s Mundhwa area, estimated to be worth around ₹1,800 crore. Opposition leaders have alleged that the land was purchased by a company linked to Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, for only ₹300 crore — and that the transaction was facilitated by a waiver of stamp duty. The allegation has caused unease within the ruling coalition, especially given the political influence of the Pawar family in Maharashtra’s politics.
Chief Minister Fadnavis has publicly acknowledged the seriousness of the case and indicated that the government will conduct a probe into the transaction. Responding to questions from reporters, Sharad Pawar said, “The chief minister has said publicly that the matter is serious. So he should conduct a probe and put the facts before society.” His statement was seen as a calibrated move to distance himself and his faction of the NCP from the controversy while signalling openness to scrutiny.
When asked whether his nephew Ajit Pawar was being politically targeted by his allies in the Mahayuti government, the veteran leader replied, “I wouldn’t know,” maintaining a neutral stance. He also appeared to differ with his daughter, NCP MP Supriya Sule, who earlier expressed confidence that Parth would “not do anything wrong.” Pawar dismissed it as “her personal view,” underlining that “administration, politics, and family are different matters.”
Clarifying the Pawar family’s political divisions, the senior leader noted that despite familial ties, ideological and political differences remain sharp. “As a family, we are one, but ideologically we are divided. One of my grandnephews had contested against Ajit Pawar, and Ajit Pawar’s wife had contested against my daughter,” he said, referring to the intra-family electoral contests that have defined recent Maharashtra politics.
Pawar also spoke on broader political strategy, saying that the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) would soon decide its course for the upcoming local body polls. He revealed that his faction of the NCP would meet on Sunday to deliberate on alliances and potential new partners. Significantly, he hinted at openness to including Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) within the opposition bloc, urging the Congress to “not take an extreme stance” against the MNS if a consensus-based alternative emerges.
Shifting focus to the state’s agrarian crisis, Pawar strongly criticised the Mahayuti government for its failure to deliver timely assistance to farmers hit by heavy rains and crop losses. Drawing a historical parallel, he said, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s kingdom comprised hardworking farmers, and he always took care of them. However, this is not happening now.” Pawar accused the government of deception, saying that the relief package announced for farmers “has not reached many of them,” and described the promised loan waiver as “a fraud.”
The controversy over the Mundhwa land deal adds yet another layer of complexity to Maharashtra’s political landscape. It not only tests the stability of the ruling alliance but also deepens the rift within the Pawar family, whose political loyalties have already split between Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) and Ajit Pawar’s faction aligned with the BJP. With Chief Minister Fadnavis now under pressure to pursue an impartial investigation, the case may become a defining flashpoint in the state’s pre-election political narrative.
